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OKAY everybody... it’s the end (or damn near it, my math sucks) of the first 100 days... score cards please. I give him an A on most issues especially foreign policies an A+ on his releasing the torture memos Generally a B on the economy I give him a C on the whole bailout thing and I give him a triple A+ for annoying the hell out of the right wing.
AP Poll: Americans high on Obama, direction of US
news.yahoo.com...
For the first time in years, more Americans than not say the country is headed in the right direction, a sign that Barack Obama has used the first 100 days of his presidency to lift the public's mood and inspire hopes for a brighter future.
Intensely worried about their personal finances and medical expenses, Americans nonetheless appear realistic about the time Obama might need to turn things around, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll. It shows most Americans consider their new president to be a strong, ethical and empathetic leader who is working to change Washington.
Nobody knows how long the honeymoon will last, but Obama has clearly transformed the yes-we-can spirit of his candidacy into a tool of governance. His ability to inspire confidence — Obama's second book is titled "The Audacity of Hope" — has thus far buffered the president against the harsh political realities of two wars, a global economic meltdown and countless domestic challenges.
"He presents a very positive outlook," said Cheryl Wetherington, 35, an independent voter who runs a chocolate shop in Gardner, Kan. "He's very well-spoken and very vocal about what direction should be taken."
Other AP-GfK findings could signal trouble for Obama:
_While there is evidence that people feel more optimistic about the economy, 65 percent said it's difficult for them and their families to get ahead. More than one-third know of a family member who recently lost a job.
_More than 90 percent of Americans consider the economy an important issue, the highest ever in AP polling.
_Nearly 80 percent believe that the rising federal debt will hurt future generations, and Obama is getting mixed reviews at best for his handling of the issue.
And yet, the percentage of Americans saying the country is headed in the right direction rose to 48 percent, up from 40 percent in February. Forty-four percent say the nation is on the wrong track.
Not since January 2004, shortly after the capture of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, has an AP survey found more "right direction" than "wrong direction" respondents. The burst of optimism didn't last long in 2004.
And it doesn't happen much.
A Report Card on Obamanomics, Approaching One Hundred Days
tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com...
The Administration is coming up to that magical 100-day mark, at which point measures are taken of how a new president is doing. As a university professor I'm accustomed to giving grades. So here's my report card on Obamanomics so far:
The 10-year budget gets an A. It's an extraordinary vision of what America can and should become, including universal health insurance and environmental protections against climate change. And the budget takes a little bit more from the rich and gives a little bit more back to the poor and lower middle class, which seems appropriate given that the income gap is wider than it's been since the 1920s. I'd give the budget an A plus except for its far-too-rosy economic projections.
The stimulus package gets a B. Good as far as it goes but doesn't go nearly far enough. $787 billion over two years sounds like a lot of stimulus. But the economy is operating at about a trillion and a half dollars below its capacity this year alone. And considering that the states are cutting services and increasing taxes to the tune of $350 billion over this year and next, the stimulus is even smaller.
The last grade is for the bank bailouts. I give them an F. I'm a big fan of this administration, but I've got to be honest. The bailouts are failing. So far American taxpayers have shoveled out almost $600 billion. Yet the banks are lending less money than they did five months ago. Bank executives are still taking home princely sums, their toxic assets and non-performing loans are growing, and the banks are still cooking their books. And now the Treasury is talking about converting taxpayer dollars into bank equity, which exposes taxpayers to even greater losses.
From Robert Reich's Blog
The Administration is coming up to that magical 100-day mark, at which point measures are taken of how a new president is doing. As a university professor I'm accustomed to giving grades. So here's my report card on Obamanomics so far:
So that's the report card. An A on the budget, B on the stimulus, and F on the bailout. On the whole (given how I weigh grades) that gives Obamanomics a C+. Not bad given the magnitude of the problems Obama inherited. But by the same token, not nearly good enough.
The last grade is for the bank bailouts. I give them an F. I'm a big fan of this administration, but I've got to be honest. The bailouts are failing. So far American taxpayers have shoveled out almost $600 billion. Yet the banks are lending less money than they did five months ago.
So that's the report card. An A on the budget, B on the stimulus, and F on the bailout. On the whole (given how I weigh grades) that gives Obamanomics a C-plus. Not bad given the magnitude of the problems Obama inherited. But by the same token, not nearly good enough.
Originally posted by grover
That speech was certainly a high point... I was really impressed recently with his speech in Cairo.
Obama's speech will echo throughout the middle east because each leader, Jewish, Christian and Muslim will have to address it... now if the man can at least make the effort to live up to the rhetoric.
On Obama and the Middle East. IMO there is a lot of back door diplomacy going on to bring about a thawing of relations between the US and Iran. Hard liners in both countries oppose such a move. Obama faces opposition to detente with Iran because Only Nixon could go to China.
Iran and other regimes in the region have brainwashed their people into thinking that the US is responsible for all their ills.
Obama won’t make any head way with the Israel - Palestine problem. A thawing of US - Iran would be beneficial because in exchange for the easing of sanctions greater co-operation could be gained in the efforts to deal the troublesome Pakistan - Afghan border.
I am still concerned about Iran's Nuclear Program but the threat of Afghanistan returning to Taliban is a greater threat to global security.
[Obama] has been the perfect enabler for the FED/Banks (Geitner), Big Agriculture (Vilsack), Israel (Emanuel), Military Industrial Complex (Clinton), and a host of other calls that would seem "stupid" or "erroneous," but are perfect for those variables who have already established their power in our government.
It is my belief that Obama has become an enabler, just as he was destined to become. Every person who has filled this position and tried to rebel in favor of your common man is 6 feet deeper than they were before they tried.
If I was Obama and the time came for a formal diplomatic trip to Iran I wouldn't be delegating the role to Hillary I would go myself .
Before Nixon made his famous visit to China I think that kissinger or State Department officials made secret visits to China to make way for what was to come.
. . take a deep breath and ask would you trust any regime with a Holocaust denier in its mist with even the possibility of them gaining Nuclear Weapons?
Such is the mantle of leadership that risks and threats have to be weighted up. Unlike in WW2 the US vs them mentality has proven to be harmful in the War On Terror.